March 26, 2012

It's been a very dry week for business. Life has been crazy though, so I guess that makes up for it.

I was thinking about writing again just now. I had a writing teacher that said you should never use cliches, that all of your writing should be fresh and new. He said how horrible Soap Operas were, because they are 90% cliche. At the time I thought, that's what they were supposed to be. So because of that, when I put in any cliche phrase into my writing, I think it's bad. I'm starting to rethink that one. I think it's OK to put a tiny bit of cliche into your writing. It might just be a comfortable familiar thing to the reader. Or maybe it brings the writer to the level of the reader in the reader's eye. And after all, how can you avoid a string of words in all situations.

OK enough of the writing over thinking.

I was so behind in my work, that I had to do quite a lot today (and will tomorrow too). So I planned to cut and sew and cut and shape flowers and finish my designs and send them off. I woke up in the morning to a new Vistaprint add for postcards half off. I wanted to make the cover of my mini brochure out of a small post card, so.... on top of my huge todo list, I added finishing my brochure cover. I had one almost finished so I finished it and uploaded it. It was the wrong size. I have no idea how I got the wrong template, but I did. I had to redo the whole thing. I think I might have been planning to use the bigger size, but I thought the smaller will be better now. And it will cost less.

The nice thing about the post card, is that I can also sent them as a post card. So I ordered 100 for now. They match my website and I have a binding machine, and paper cutter, so I can whip up 4 page little brochures. I'm very excited about them. I guess I'd better hurry and make my packaging, so I can take pictures and get it in my brochure and on the website. I'll have two options for wholesalers, recycled kraft box or hanging clear pillow boxes.

I've definitely taken too much time off of my project and it's time I got it in gear again.

March 2, 2012

I really can't believe it's March already. Hell I can't believe it's 2012. I only have 2 months left to write this diary. I'll be glad it's over, but I think I'll miss it.

I was just reading a blog post about consignment, as opposed to wholesale. I guess the thought is that on consignment, the shop hasn't made any investment in your product, and has no incentive to sell. Makes a lot of sense to me. I really hadn't even considered consignment. I've done it in the past, and although I did make some money, what I usually got was trade. Not that that's bad. I got one of my favorite shirts ever in a trade. I wore it until it fell to shreds.

But the person who wrote the post has a point. I don't think I will sell on consignment unless it is a trial, and I will make sure to get a consignment agreement.

I made nine new product designs in the past two days. Two were variations, so not as much work, but still, a lot of work in 2 days. Five of the designs were chosen to sample. If just one of them sell, it could be fantastic for me and the company I work for.

The product design is interfering with my plans for wholesaling. If this becomes a regular thing, I might have to give up on the jewelry altogether. Well, not really. At the rate I sell, I can certainly keep my shops open on Artfire. But wholesaling could be out of the picture. I might even be able to do a show or two, or a local shop or two. But not a national program.

On top of all the work, I caught a cold, and I was never really over the flu and sinus infection. I think I really need a tropical vacation.

February 5, 2012

Once again I'm torn with my decisions. A week ago I was positive I needed to sell my flowers and feeling so positive that I could. This week I have my doubts. February and March are the worse months for sales for me. Last year I sold a lot of old gold jewelry to make ends meet. This year I have none left. Not really sure what I'm going to do.

I've been working on my website and have changed the fonts and re made the banners so many times it's not funny, and in reality the changes are so minor I don't know that anyone would even notice the difference. I'm so anal about things like that. Even after I tweak things I'm still not happy.

Remember when you were a kid and things were so simple. There were no choices to make, you just did what you were told, ate what was put in front of you, went to school and spent your spare time playing. I think I need to dream about playing with the neighborhood kids tonight.

I don't think I mentioned this before. I had quite an imagination and a lot of ambition as a child. I also knew how to delegate, and I don't know where that talent disappeared. Every summer, I organized some big event, a circus, a puppet show, some kind of huge money making event in our back yard, Actually I had a stand of something or another going on all the time. I'd sell lemonade, or comic books Sometimes I'd just haul out everything I owned on our front lawn and waited for sales.

The circus was fun. I was a fortune teller, in a tent made from laundry poles and blankets. Friends were in charge of the animals, a cat and several jars of insects, Other friends performed. We didn't have too many customers, other than younger siblings, because most of the neighborhood kids were involved.

You would think that someone who was that clever, industrious and totally in charge as a kid, wouldn't be so dysfunctional as an adult. Maybe if I dream about being a kid, I'll find some clarity.  

January 25, 2012

To say that I'm leaning my decisions in one direction is an understatement. I know what I want to do and maybe if I just put my focus there, and not anywhere else I will have success. Maybe I needed this time to discover what is is that I really love and make it happen.

That being said, I have only sold five, yes, that's right, five pieces of my Jewelry since this venture began. Not that people don't love it. Maybe it's my clientèle. Maybe the people who love to wear flowers are just hippies who would rather garden and save the environment, than spend money on themselves. I would love to be able to donate a percentage of my profits to a “green” organization. I suppose I could, because after all, I'm not selling any, so even 50% of nothing is still nothing, right?

I've gotten my to do list almost done. I know there will be more things to add to it. So far I have 25 things to accomplish, these are for my jewelry business and for my product design and they include things like learn my CAD program, Design Packaging for my Jewelry, Bangle Bracelet design and even finish taxes and apply for student loan forbearance. I've even set dates of completion for all the tasks. Now all I have to do is get on my horse and ride.

All of this organization has really got me moving. I can't even begin to tell you how much this has changed my outlook on everything I've been doing. I've been motivated, and actually filled with anticipation for the future of my art, what ever career path choose to follow. I love my new logo and the tagline I'm working on. I feel that when I'm finished it will be as professional as any marketing firm can do for a major corporation. I plan to make a few high end hand painted pieces and try to enter them in competitions. I even have met some of my newly set goals already.

I do have one thing I think I'm failing miserably at. My daughter just found 2 sealed containers of Christmas cookies that we misplaced. That was a hint. I'm doing my weigh in tomorrow and I think I hate myself. Not sure yet, but I haven't been able to exercise much because I got carried away and hurt myself. I think I just need to go out and walk, because I can't seem to dance without shaking my hips and it seems to kinda throw them out. We shall see. I'll let you know tomorrow.

January 16, 2012

The first time I went to China to develop painted finishes (not my first trip to China) I had a horrible cold. I was working at a factory where no one spoke English and I had a translator/manager that was new and didn't understand paint or paint terms. Nothing could be translated for me. I had to be creative and I had to use other terms that could be understood.

The finish manager, brought me solvents for the paint and pointed me to two different sections of paint. There were 2 sections. She held the solvents in front of my nose so I could tell which was which. (I'm sure that was healthy for me to inhale the fumes) Unfortunately I had the worst cold I had in years and could not smell a thing. I had no idea what I had. I tried to explain, but I don't think it was translated well.

I sat at a table made for me and tried to work with the paints. I must have looked like a total fool as I tried to mix water with lacquer based paint. The finish workers must have thought “who was this fool they brought in”? Again the manager ran the solvents under my nose. Finally I asked for water based paints for me to work with. I got that through by acting like I was drinking the solvent. She brought me a few jars of dried up, fairly useless paint.

This was going to be tough. I was used to developing finishes with latex. Because latex was costly and not as flexible, and it is legal to use more volatile paints in China, they used the solvent based paints. I have to admit, once I got used to them (and the fumes) they were much easier to work with. After a few days, the shop manager realized I was sick, and she helped me with the paint problem.

They were used to having unknowledgable people come in the factory and demand the impossible. I told them, I would never make them do something I couldn't do myself. If they told me something was impossible, I would take the piece from the worker and do the task myself. It shut down the whining, because that was embarrassing, more so there than here. But I gave great praise at a job well done.

If you think buyers are hard to communicate with, try giving instructions to Chinese factory workers through a translator that does not understand the processes you are trying to explain. Sometimes you really have to get creative communicating. I did much better without the translator in the end.

Today I assembled 11 new single flower on chain necklaces and 5 headbands. I do need to make more headbands and some fascinators. I am so excited about my photo shoot tomorrow. I've started listing today, but will edit when I get the modeled pictures.

I also sold several sewn pieces. I'm so torn about this whole thing. Maybe I need to send out emissaries to wear my jewelry and pass out business cards across the country. It does seem that I'm enjoying this now, but I actually really enjoyed working in the factories in China. Hmmmm.  

January 7, 2012

I have a confession, I'm terrified of working full time. I had such a bad experience last time and damn, I have a really good memory. When I remember the horrors, like being yelled at for problems that never were my responsibility, or even part of my job, I just cringe. I try to fill in the terrors with memories of good bosses, and enjoyable working conditions. That's the only way I'll get my butt out there again.

Today I was in a very foul mood. I think I'm catching what the rest of the family has, or maybe it's because I fell asleep and missed the end of Merlin. Maybe it's because the powers that be at the site I'm selling at, all of a sudden are doing things to harm the site and turn off their customers (us). I'm so mad at the arrogance of a certain person there, and I was trying to be all peaceful and loving. HA! It might also be because I'm damn sore from exercising. But as soon as Poppy leaves with her friend I'm exercising.

I didn't exercise till later cause I had a drunk day. I was moody and I needed it and I ate a beef hamburger for lunch an hour late because I had to watch the baby and had to take off the cat litter and cat and bird food and boxes and fabric bucket off the water softener that takes the place of one of the only closets we have, because the owner of the property has the softener in our house instead of their house that is 4 times the size of ours. But I guess he doesn't realize that water flows both ways. Our house also holds the water pump and we have to pay electric for softener and pump for both houses. Not disclosed on the lease, but I'm going to use that info sometime in the future if he ever threatens to raise the rent again. RELATIVES!

Sobered up, and glad I got a drunk on. Finally got half a brain and figured out a problem is with selling my jewelry. I think I'll have the remedy in no time. Just a few more pieces and a few pictures and maybe an altered picture or two. Glad I got my brain back. I'll be adding lots of new listing and clearing out a lot of older things.

I exercised a lot too. Just a few days and I'm starting to feel really strong. At my age I should never let a few months go like I did. I'll end up not being able to walk upright, like the old folks who are the same age as me next door.

All in all, today was a good day. Now I either have to get over the workplace terrors that don't even compare to the “interview” terrors. Or I could decide to keep selling on the Internet and remain a hermit.